Austin! Continues to attract "High Tech"!!

**SEMIweather** · 02-02-2020, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by BG918

I think most cities will be glad they weren’t part of the high tech boom. They look at what has happened to these once-great cities and don’t want to replicate it.

Agree with this to a certain extent, OKC and other non-glamorous cities such as Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati can absolutely carve out a niche in terms of attracting non-glamorous industries and keeping cost of living noticeably lower than cities that are part of the tech boom. Of course, housing policies also play a huge role in terms of why cities such as San Francisco and Seattle have gotten so unaffordable.

**JoninATX** · 02-08-2020, 03:01 AM

Austin tallest tower lights it's crown tonight

Picture credit by Deerhoof

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kxa...wn-austin/amp/

**JoninATX** · 02-08-2020, 05:45 AM

Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin | 346 FEET | 31 FLOORS l Site Demo

Photo credit to ThyPiGuy from SSP

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...222194&page=13

**JoninATX** · 02-08-2020, 05:53 AM

425 Riverside l 234FT l 15 Floors l U/C

Photo credit to The ATX

https://austin.towers.net/for-bouldi...lyn@towers.net

**OKC Guy** · 02-19-2020, 01:00 PM

Wanted to post this article link as it discusses their homeless problem.

Austin Businesses Sound Alarm over Homelessness Hitting 'Boiling Point'

The homelessness problem is getting out of hand and increasing the risk of danger, a steakhouse owner in Austin, Texas, said recently.

“Our biggest thing is this isn’t safe for anybody, and that includes the homeless population,” Vince Young Steakhouse’s Executive Chef Phillip Brown told KXAN.

On Twitter Wednesday, Brown shared photos he took of a large cardboard box behind his restaurant where people had set up camp:

While there are now more police in the area, Brown said, “They can’t be everywhere all the time.”

Continue reading at:

https://www.breitbart.com/crime/2020...mpression=true

**Plutonic Panda** · 03-10-2020, 07:40 AM

The most ambitious transit proposal for Austin is being recommended which I am elated to see but I fear many in Austin won’t go for it.

Lately we’ve seen some big hits on transit systems in Seattle, Nashville, NYC(though I would argue this is for the better as congestion pricing was a horrible idea) and I am worried the proposed Houston downtown freeway expansion project will be reduced in scope but I hope I’m wrong in that.

Some great news out of Austin is that the central portion of the massive I-35 expansion project has found funding! Now if they can just get this mass transit package to pass along with all of the other freeway projects underway in Austin we might see some real progress on easing congestion there.

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/...ht-rail-system

**JoninATX** · 03-23-2020, 07:17 PM

Hope u guys in OKC are good. In Austin the streets are deserted and 6th Street boarded up.

Empty Congress Ave

https://m.facebook.com/statesman/pho...type=3&theater

**JoninATX** · 03-23-2020, 07:22 PM

Here's a live shot of downtown Austin looking a the future home of Hyatt Centric.

https://www.katerra.com/webcams/hyatt-austin/

**JoninATX** · 03-23-2020, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by Plutonic Panda

The most ambitious transit proposal for Austin is being recommended which I am elated to see but I fear many in Austin won’t go for it.

Lately we’ve seen some big hits on transit systems in Seattle, Nashville, NYC(though I would argue this is for the better as congestion pricing was a horrible idea) and I am worried the proposed Houston downtown freeway expansion project will be reduced in scope but I hope I’m wrong in that.

Some great news out of Austin is that the central portion of the massive I-35 expansion project has found funding! Now if they can just get this mass transit package to pass along with all of the other freeway projects underway in Austin we might see some real progress on easing congestion there.

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/...ht-rail-system

Glad to finally see something being done about IH 35. I've been saying that they should cap IH 35 through downtown and put side streets and rail on top. I would like to see downtown connect with east Austin.

You can see in this photo where 35 splits downtown and East Austin.

**JoninATX** · 03-23-2020, 09:23 PM

Crane base installed for 6 X Guadalupe (Austin Tallest)

300 Colorado & Hanover Republic Square progress

Indeed Tower

https://www.surlyhorns.com/board/ind...omment-2135779

**Plutonic Panda** · 03-23-2020, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by JoninATX

Glad to finally see something being done about IH 35. I've been saying that they should cap IH 35 through downtown and put side streets and rail on top. I would like to see downtown connect with east Austin.

You can see in this photo where 35 splits downtown and East Austin.

Agreed. I hope Houston gets their downtown rebuild through also though I’m worried this economic impact might put a dent in the plans or at least the schedule.

BTW, did Austin’s transit package make it through to vote?

**JoninATX** · 03-23-2020, 10:04 PM

Sadly it failed a 3rd time. It's up for debate this November. Fingers crossed that it passes.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news...-rail-transit/

**JoninATX** · 03-26-2020, 08:33 PM

Austin still remains one of the fastest growing big cities in The country

For the ninth-straight year, Austin is the fastest-growing major metro in the country. The estimated 61,586 increase in the Austin metro population from mid-2018 to mid-2019 equates to about 169 people added per day.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n..._news_headline

Austin over took Cincinnati as the 29th largest MSA

29. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX, 2,227,083

30. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, 2,221,208

https://www.census.gov/programs-surv...data-sets.html

**JoninATX** · 03-26-2020, 10:04 PM

Bad news as construction stops across Austin

By Jay Koziarz March 26th.

Austin’s largest and longest-running building boom is on pause and faces an uncertain future following a stay-at-home order from city officials to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/austin....ment-stay-home

This only applies to the city of Austin not the surrounding communities such as Round Rock, Georgetown, San Marcos. Those cities will continue their construction projects.

**JoninATX** · 03-27-2020, 03:10 PM

This doesn't mean that construction will completely stop on all projects. There are some guidelines that will keep some construction projects essential.

Those facilities include:

•Public works construction projects
•Affordable housing projects
•Construction of facilities for individuals experiencing homelessness
•Construction of facilities that provide social services
•Construction of facilities that are defined in the order as essential businesses, essential government functions, or critical infrastructure
•Construction of facilities specifically required by the City in response to the current COVID-19 emergency.

https://www.kvue.com/mobile/article/...a-3387b91aa383

**JoninATX** · 03-27-2020, 03:11 PM

I don't think it's a smart idea to shut down construction sites.

**JoninATX** · 04-02-2020, 08:18 PM

Austin kills construction ban after Governor Abbott's order

By Daniel Salazar
April 2nd 2020

This ends more than a week of uncertainty around whether commercial and residential construction can continue in Austin during the coronavirus pandemic — and it's another example of the state overriding city regulations. The city will continue to monitor sites to "ensure that social distancing and recommended hygiene practices are being observed."

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...tts-order.html